Silkie thread!

[Pyncheon guy]

Black Silkie male question..... Is it common to have "some" white in the foot feathering in Black silkie males? When bred to Black pullets/hens without white...can they or will they produce blacks without the white? Why would ANY Blacks have white in the toe feathering anyway...what would be the culprit....? These are young males "just" starting to crow.... Will they molt out the white? Thanks in advance! Just getting back into Silkies....mostly BBS's.....had them years ago and really missed them. (RH)

 

[LeasureChix]

Colie <3 :

Quote:
Julie what shows are you going to next week? Congrats on winning the Kelar eggs you'll hatch some beauties from her I'm sure

I am going to the APA NorthWest National Poultry Show and the American Silkie Bantam Club Western Silkie National. They are being held next Fri-Sun in Stephenson WA. And thank you, I'm sure I'll end up with some really nice babies. I also have Silkie eggs in the bator and more coming next week. I'm collecting all the dog kennels I can find to convert to Silkie pens. Nothing like jumping in with both feet. As of now I have 30 eggs in the bator, 6 dozen more coming. All the eggs should have real good potential and I have pretty good success with my bators and shipped eggs. I'm planning on banding or keeping the babies divided according to where they came from.​

 

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

Quote:
Julie what shows are you going to next week? Congrats on winning the Kelar eggs you'll hatch some beauties from her I'm sure

I am going to the APA NorthWest National Poultry Show and the American Silkie Bantam Club Western Silkie National. They are being held next Fri-Sun in Stephenson WA. And thank you, I'm sure I'll end up with some really nice babies. I also have Silkie eggs in the bator and more coming next week. I'm collecting all the dog kennels I can find to convert to Silkie pens. Nothing like jumping in with both feet. As of now I have 30 eggs in the bator, 6 dozen more coming. All the eggs should have real good potential and I have pretty good success with my bators and shipped eggs. I'm planning on banding or keeping the babies divided according to where they came from.

Leasure Chix, what % do you consider successful when hatching shipped eggs? Thanks, Nikki

 

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

Dear Silkie Lovers, I need a little help. I am a day before putting some eggs on lockdown in an old school styrofoam dry air incubator. Temps are good, but I'm having trouble increasing the humidity. I have both water chambers full, placed wet rags under wire throughout, lids filled with water, and wet sponges. I even started running the humidifier in the room the incubator is in. I'll try anything- not much time left. Humidity will still not get above 60%. Any other ideas to increase the humidity?

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

CCK~~I'd recommend checking your hygrometer....

 

[vebyrd36]

Well I'd say your hygrometer has went south. With that much water in the bator it shoud be around 90%. Even here in west Texas I have to watch it. I use wet wash clothes and maintain humidity at 55% for first 18 day then increase to 70%. I to use a still air, currently have 10 running. I hope this helps.

 

[LeasureChix]

Nikki, I have had 50% or a little better hatch with shipped eggs. I am super careful with temp and humidity and I rarely candle. I also use an egg turner and this year added a fan to my Little Giant styro bator. I had much higher hatch rate with some of my local friends eggs. This year I ordered a dozen + splash marans eggs and ended up with 8 chicks, a dozen + golden cuckoo marans and again, 8 chicks. I ordered 8 + dark brahma eggs, hatched 4 chicks and lost 1. The DB eggs had a lot of bad air cells and I don't know if they were old eggs, infertile, or if I have the USPS to thank for poor handling. I had a bunch more eggs develop until the end but not hatch. I know my humidity was high, temp was good so I don't know what happened. I might try hatching in egg cartons with the bottoms cut out as previously suggested. Maybe the other chicks didn't like being rolled around by the new hatches.

I have a question. What do people use for "hatchers"? I have several small incubators. Next week they will be pretty full. If somehow I end up with a higher hatch rate, I'll have Silkies coming out my ears next month. Woo Hoo! What a thought!

Julie

 

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

Quote:
can someone recommend a good hygromometer?

 

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

Quote:
I have a brinsea and rcom incubator. I am using the styrofoam one for the hatching.

 

[vebyrd36]

I use a wet bulb hygromometer. I have better luk with them.